Tyre Nichols’ stepfather calls for charges against paramedics who failed to render aid

The stepfather of Tyre Nichols has called for criminal charges against the paramedics who appeared to stand by after he was savagely beaten by police, while two deputies who responded after the altercation also face investigation.

Released on Friday, video of the January 7 incident in Memphis shows at least 10 cops and two paramedics milling about casually for nearly 20 minutes as Nichols lies on the ground critically injured. He died in hospital three days later.   

‘Everyone — the fire department, paramedics that came out that stood around and didn’t do anything — they’re just as guilty,’ Nichols’ stepfather Rodney Wells told ABC News following the release of the video.

‘Everyone that was active in the whole scene, the whole video, should be charged,’ he added. Five Memphis cops have already been charged with second-degree murder.

Meanwhile, the sheriff of Shelby County, which includes Memphis, said that after viewing the video, he is suspending two deputies who responded to the scene following the beating, which began with a traffic stop.

Tyre Nichols’ stepfather Rodney Wells (above) has called for criminal charges against the paramedics who appeared to fail to render aid after he was savagely beaten by police

Two paramedics are seen standing over Nichols as he flops on the pavement, unable to speak or sit up, following the January 7 beating by police that began with a traffic stop

Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. said in a statement: ‘Having watched the videotape for the first time tonight, I have concerns about two deputies who arrived on the scene following the physical confrontation between police and Tyre Nichols.’

Bonner said he had launched an internal investigation into the two deputies, adding that they had been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the probe. 

The video raises disturbing questions about the apparent lack of action from first responders to treat Nichols after he was kicked and punched in the head, struck three times with a metal baton, and twice sprayed with pepper spray in the face.

Paramedics arrived on the scene about five minutes after the assault on Nichols concluded, at which point he was handcuffed and slumped against the side of a car.

The video shows a paramedic leaning over Nichols asking: ‘What’d you have? We’re trying to get you straight, what’d you have?’

Nichols is heard making a gurgling noise, but appears unable to speak, although he had been heard speaking clearly and relatively calmly before the assault. 

Officers at the scene were heard remarking that Nichols was ‘on something’ and ‘high as a kite’ as they wisecracked after the assault.

Cops may have advised the paramedics that Nichols was on drugs, though no evidence that he was has emerged in the weeks following the assault. 

Paramedics arrive on the scene about five minutes after the beating, but do not seem to render immediate aid to Nichols, after cops claimed he was high on drugs

A paramedic is seen leaning over Nichols asking, ‘What’d you have? We’re trying to get you straight, what’d you have?’ He is unable to respond and makes a gurgling noise 

Police and paramedics stand by as Nichols is sprawled handcuffed on the pavement

Aside from these inquiries about drugs, paramedics appeared to offer little aid as Nichols sprawled unresponsive on the pavement, unable to sit up on his own, and unable to speak.

The video does not appear to show the paramedics checking vital signs such as blood pressure, and as they left Nichols flopping on the pavement, his head struck the hubcap of the car at least once.

Finally, about 20 minutes after the assault concluded, and about 15 minutes after they first arrived on the scene, the paramedics can be seen removing some kind of equipment from their kits and leaning over Nichols to treat him. 

About five later, an ambulance pulled up and removed a stretcher to transport Nichols.

Nichols died in intensive care on January 10 after suffering cardiac arrest and kidney failure as a result of his injuries. 

In addition to the paramedics, sworn police officers have a duty to render aid, and the five officers charged in the incident were fired from the Memphis police department for their failure to do so.

Finally, about 20 minutes after the assault concluded, and about 15 minutes after they first arrived on the scene, the paramedics can be seen removing some kind of equipment from their kits and leaning over Nichols to treat him

Finally at 9pm, an ambulance pulled up and removed a stretcher to transport Nichols

Tyre Nichols is pictured in hospital after the incident. The 29-year-old from Memphis died on January 10 from cardiac arrest and kidney failure, three days after he was pulled over for reckless driving by police in unmarked cars

The five cops who were fired and charged are Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr, and Justin Smith. 

They are charged with second-degree murder, assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression. 

Memphis Police Director Cerelyn ‘CJ’ Davis has said other officers are under investigation for their part in the arrest.

Davis described the five officers’ actions as ‘heinous, reckless and inhumane.’

The video released on Friday night shows Nichols, 29, crying out for his mother multiple times during the brutal January 7 assault, which took place just a few blocks from his home.

‘Mom! Mom!’ screams Nichols as he is pinned to the ground by multiple officers, pepper sprayed in the face, kicked and punched in the head, and struck with a metal baton.

The video shows police rained at least nine blows down on the FedEx worker while screaming profanities throughout the nearly four-minute altercation.

Throughout the videos, officers make claims about Nichols that are not supported by the footage, or what the district attorney or other officials have said about the case. 

Charged with second degree murder are (top, left to right) Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, and (bottom, left to right) Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith

In one of the videos, an officer claims that during the initial traffic stop Nichols wrestled for his gun before fleeing. The video does not depict such an incident.

After Nichols is in handcuffs and leaning against a police car, several officers claimed that he must have been high. 

Later, an officer says no drugs were found in his car, and another officer immediately counters that Nichols must have ditched something while he was running away.

The footage has been widely condemned by police departments and unions across the country. 

The national president of the Fraternal Order of Police issued a scathing statement in response to the video of police beating Nichols.

Patrick Yoes said the officers’ physical confrontation with Nichols ‘does not constitute legitimate police work or a traffic stop gone wrong.’ 

Instead, Yoes called it a ‘criminal assault under the pretext of law.’